October 01, 2026 - 222 views
People across North Wales are being urged to check whether they are missing out on financial support, as the Welsh Government says more than £1 billion in benefits goes unclaimed across Wales every year.
The warning comes as households face continued pressure from energy and other essential costs, with the Welsh Government's Claim What's Yours campaign encouraging people to get a free benefits check before financial problems become more serious.
The scale of support already being secured through advice services can be seen across North Wales. In Conwy, for example, the council's Welfare Rights service provides advice on benefits including Universal Credit, Pension Credit, Personal Independence Payment and Attendance Allowance, as well as help with council tax and other support.
Across Wales, 79,000 people received help from Welsh Government-funded advice providers last year. Together, those services secured £75.6 million in additional income for people and helped write off a further £21 million of debt.
The latest Welsh Government figures also show the importance of checking council tax support. During 2025-26, more than 257,000 households across Wales received help through the Council Tax Reduction Scheme – around one in five households – with more than 218,000 paying no council tax as a result.
The campaign stresses that support isn't only for people who are out of work. People who are working, studying, caring for someone, raising children or already receiving benefits could also be entitled to additional help.
Free and confidential advice is available through Advicelink Cymru on 0800 702 2020. Advisers can carry out a benefits check, explain what support may be available and help people through the claims process. Lines are open from 8am to 7pm Monday to Friday and 9am to 1pm on Saturdays, with Welsh-language calls welcomed.
The Welsh Government says support can include help with benefits, debt, rent and bills, as well as childcare and other essential costs.
For people in North Wales, the message is simple: if your circumstances have changed, or you're struggling to make ends meet, it may be worth checking what support you're entitled to rather than assuming you're not eligible.
